11 February 2020 ACCLAIMED SONG CYCLE SPINIFEX GUM COMING TO QPAC Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) and WOW (Women of the World) Australia 2020 will present the critically acclaimed Spinifex Gum, a powerful and political musical snapshot of life in The Pilbara, for one night only in the Concert Hall on Sunday 5 April. Performed by the lush voices of Gondwana Choirs’ Cairns-based Marliya Choir, Spinifex Gum is a song cycle written and produced by The Cat Empire front man Felix Riebl, who will join the choir on stage alongside award-winning singer songwriter Emma Donovan. Riebl spent several years visiting Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi country in the Pilbara region of north Western Australia to build relationships and gather stories before going on to write the album Spinifex Gum with co-creator Ollie McGill, keyboardist and composer from The Cat Empire, in 2017. Featuring stories of racism, injustice and the legacies of colonisation, Spinifex Gum addresses pervasive issues for Australia’s First Nations population, from the historic land rights battle that was lost over Harding Dam, to 22-year-old Ms Dhu’s death in custody in 2014. The live performance, choreographed by former Bangarra Dance Theatre dancer Deborah Brown, will illuminate music built from found sound samples of The Pilbara – rustling leaves, bouncing basketballs and chugging trains – and is “full of the exuberance of youth, underwritten by basslines that would feel at home on a Beyoncé album” (The Guardian). Marliya Choir – who sing in English and Yindjibarndi – bring a vibrant young voice to the Australian issues in Spinifex Gum through their compelling blend of harmony and protest, while trailblazing a new pop-choir genre. Nominated for Best New Australian Work at the 2019 Helpmann Awards®, Spinifex Gum toured extensively last year to Sydney, Arnhem Land, Darwin, The Pilbara, Canberra and Melbourne. This will be the first time the work is performed in Brisbane and will close WOW (Women of the World) Australia 2020. Tickets are on sale now via qpac.com.au or 136 246. -ENDS- QPAC acknowledges the traditional custodians of Meeanjin also known as Brisbane. We are visitors to this country, and as such, understand our obligations while living, playing and working here. We pay our respects to traditional custodians, to First Nations Elders, other Elders and those that travel to this place. QPAC and WOW (Women of the World) Australia 2020 present Spinifex Gum Proudly supported by TAFE Queensland WHEN: Sunday 5 April 2020 WHERE: Concert Hall, QPAC, Queensland Cultural Centre, South Bank, Brisbane TICKETS: Refer to qpac.com.au for current pricing BOOKINGS: qpac.com.au or 136 246 Download high resolution images via atqp.ac/SpinifexGumPublicity For further information, images or interviews please contact: Michaela Tynan, Publicity & Content Manager, QPAC Phone (07) 3840 7984 or 0413 560 930 Email: [email protected] .